Mangaluru : The City police have arrested Ayub, 52, warden of a Yatheem Khana in Ullal police station limits for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy.

Mangaluru City Police Commissioner N Shashi Kumar told reporters on Tuesday, that the arrest is the outcome of a day-long workshop- ‘Arivu Neravu’, organised for children from various child care centres and orphanages in the city, an initiative taken by DCP (law and Order) Hariram Shankar.

A minor claimed that he was being physically and mentally exploited by his warden Ayub. The teen was made to undergo counselling by doctors and experts from the Child Welfare Committee (CWC). Initially, though he claimed that he was being molested, further counselling brought to light a shocking case of sexual assault, which was probably taking place for the past two months.

A case has been registered under provisions of POCSO Act at the Women’s Police Station. DCP Hariram Shankar will investigate the case. The police and the experts are also examining the claims by four other boys- suspected victims of sexual assault. The victims have been rescued and shifted to a different location. The accused, also a caretaker of the institute, has been taken into police custody.

The orphanage and child care centre has been functioning for the past 30 years and has about 79 students, of which, 51 are above class six. The boy has been in the centre for the last four years.

Hariram Shankar said that the centres who participated in the workshop were told that it is a covid awareness workshop. Children were given a questionnaire that was examined by psychologists and forensic science experts and those children who showed signs of exploitation were shortlisted. The police team in the guise of holding a meeting, visited the centre on Monday and shifted the children and arrested the accused.

The workshop organised in association with the KS Hegde Medical College, CWC and district Child Protection Unit was held at the TMA Pai convention centre on March 28. Nearly 480 students from 30 child care centres and orphanages participated. They were informed about physical and sexual abuse, good and bad touch, through skits presented by the students of School of Social Work Roshni Nilaya. Every child underwent personal counselling for at least 20 minutes and mental and physical health of children were examined. A team of 20 experts and doctors including counsellors participated.

“At least 20 instances of showing dominance among students, bullying and forcefully making them work has come to light, which is being followed by experts, “the commissioner said.